Emerald Downs: He’s All Heart humbles rivals in Muckleshoot Tribal Classic

AUBURN, Wash. - He’s All Heart powered to a 10 1/4-length victory Sunday the $40,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, the marquee event on Washington Cup Day at Emerald Downs. A total of six stakes restricted to horses foaled in Washington or sired by stallions standing in the state were contested, and all six winners recorded their first career stakes victory.

He’s All Heart, ridden by Juan Gutierrez for trainer Larry Wolf, set a leisurely pace before kicking away in the stretch to bury even-money favorite Newfound Man, who was five lengths clear of third-place finisher Wasserman in a field of five. He’s All Heart ran 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track in 1:43.03 and paid $6.80.

Owned by a syndicate formed by Emerald Downs handicapper Victor Cozzetti, He’s All Heart won for the seventh time in 27 career starts. The $21,620 winner’s check pushed his earnings to $105,244. He’s All Heart was ridden by Juan Gutierrez, one of his three stakes victories Sunday.

In other Washington Cup races:

* Brady’s Kat ($22.80) rallied to win the $35,000 Dennis Dodge for 2-year-old colts and geldings. A homebred for Keith and Jan Swagerty of Auburn, Wash., the Katowice gelding ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.69 and defeated runner-up Gold Surge by a head. Harbor Wind, the 7-10 favorite, vied with Gold Surge into the stretch before fading to finish fourth. Brady’s Kat, who previously won a $7,500 maiden claimer, earned $18,326 for the Swagertys and trainer Vann Belvoir. Javier Matias rode.

* E Z Kitty ($10.80) went gate-to-wire in the $35,000 John and Kitty Fletcher Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The winner covered one mile in 1:38.26 under jockey Leonel Camacho-Flores to defeat Judging Mimi by 6 1/2 lengths. The Gang and I, the 7-10 favorite, was a non-threatening third. It was the first Emerald Downs stakes victory for both Camacho-Flores and trainer Alan Bozell. E Z Kitty, by He’s Tops, earned $18,326 for Nancy and Homer Gibson of Kent, Wash.

* Kit Cat Kitty, claimed for $12,500 from her only previous start, got up in the finals strides to win the $35,000 Diane Kem for 2-year-old fillies. Owned and trained by Vann Belvoir, Kit Cat Kitty ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.93 and paid $14.80. She defeated pacesetter Wild Chica by a neck, with Semele three-quarters of a length back in third. It was the second stakes victory of the day for jockey Javier Matias and Belvoir, who pocketed $17,500.

* Sweet Nellie Brown, runner-up in the $65,000 Emerald Distaff in August, raced to a front-running victory in the $35,000 Belle Roberts for older fillies and mares. Juan Gutierrez rode the 11-10 favorite for trainer Jim Penney and owners Jim and Zola Proffitt of Tacoma, Wash. Sweet Nellie Brown ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.67 to defeat Lilly’s a Jewel by three-quarters of a length. She earned $18,918.

* Our Eagle Boy, who captured a $30,000 maiden claimer in his previous start, led past every pole to take the $35,000 Chinook Pass for 3-year-old colts and geldings. Trained by Chris Stenslie for Patricia Hallowell of Auburn, Wash., Our Eagle Boy paid $18.20 and earned $17,857. Ridden by Juan Gutierrez, he covered one mile in 1:37.13 to defeat fast-closing Cody’s a Bobcat by a length.